Luther o



L. 0. RICE.

(Jamriage-Spring.

Patented July 6, 1858.

Inventor.

N. PETERS. PHOTO LTMOuRAPnER ASHNGTON o C UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

LUTHER 0. RICE, OF BERLIN, CANADA, WEST.

ATTACHING CARRIAGE-SPRINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,820, dated July 6, 1858.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, LUTHER OTWAY RICE, now of the town of Berlin, in the county of \Vaterloo and Province of Canada, West, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Carriage-Springs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists, 1st, in placing a scroll spring divergent to the axle, and supporting the same on the axle near the wheel, by means of a device which will sustain the spring two or three inches (more or less) above the axle at its point of support near the wheel. To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will describe the construction and operation of the same.

My springs are made in four sections or four distinct springs which form a set. One set is supported upon the forward axle, and one set upon the rear axle. These are connected together by a central stay spring which has a central fastening on the perch) and all are arranged together and act in combination. The lower sections or scroll springs are represented at A, A. The end of this spring is attached to the axle at about midway between the wheel and the center of the axle, and is secured closely to the axle, at that place by means of the clip or band C. It then diverges from the axle and passes along rising gradually above the axle toward the wheel, and is again secured to the axle near the wheel by means of the raised double clip or support D, so that at this point of support it is two or three inches (more or less) above the axle, the scroll (6) being formed and rising above the support D. This spring is made with two leaves in its horizontal part (or from the clip 0, to two or three inches past the support D), the short leaf being put on the upper side and turning with the scroll. There are two scroll springs of this kind on each axle, and what is said of one, applies equally well to each of the others. This spring being placed in a, divergent position to the axle and supported as herein described, it has a better position, and allows of an easier and more perfect action of the entire body of the spring, than if placed directly upon the axle. It is held fi m y y 4 the clip 0, at one point and the raised double clip D, at the other point, and thereby prevented from swaying to and fro as the carriage passes over unlevel ground. The strength of the spring is also united to the strength of the axle, and thereby the axle is less liable to break, and is rendered more durable. By placing the spring" in the position described I am also enabled to use a longer spring, and a broader scroll, and thereby obtain a spring more perfect and easy in its action. This position is also more advantageous, for the reason that the strain on the spring acts longitudinally upon the metal and thereby secures its greatest strength and durability. This position also prevents the spring from striking the axle, or wheel hub, however great the weight thereon may be. It also prevents the spring from coming in contact with itself, or with the spring with which it is immediately connected.

The second section or elliptic F, is a long spring which reaches from one scroll spring to the other and is connected to both by a common spring joint, as represented at, g.

The third section, g, is a reverse elliptic and is fastened to the upper plate of the turn table H. It terminates in the scrolls /1, h. This spring, in the length and size of its scrolls, should be nearly equal (relatively) the sections A, A, so that this section (9,) will possess the same elasticity or spring, (as near as may be,) as the sections A, A, and F. The carriage body-loop is I,

connected to the scroll of spring G by means of a bolt at, i, so that the body of the carriage is supported upon the four scrolls h, h h h.

The central stay spring J, is a long single spring which extends from the front, to the rear set and connects the same together. It is fastened to the perch, at the center as represented at K. It is also bolted to the forward elliptic F, under the turn table H, the other end thereof being fastened to the rear elliptic F, as represented at L. Thls spring is made with two circular bends or curves as represented at m, m. The ob ect of these curves is to provide for a longitudinal extension of the spring sufiicient to allow of a perpendicular movement of the springs F and G. WVas it not for these curves the spring J would hold the movement of the springs F and G in the arc of a circle the radius of which would be the line of this spring from K to its connections with E and F. This spring also operates in combination with the other sections to give easy, strong, and perfect action to the whole. It also prevents the other sections from swaying to and fro, as the carriage passes over unlevel ground. The whole action of the springs as combined and arranged is uniform and easy and throws the Weight of the load outwardly, and directly to the wheels and the stronger part of the axle. The axle need not, as in common carriages, be made heaviest and strongest at the center thereof, but the reverse of this, they may be made lighter at the center with only the usual strength at the end near the wheels. Consequently a much lighter axle can be made and at the same time secure all the strength and effectiveness of a heavier kind.

By this arrangement of the springs, the strain, or pressure from the load, is removed from the center of the axle to the end thereof, and into the wheels and instead of bearing down, has a tendency to lift up, from the center of the axle. I have made the sections A, with two leaves, and F with four, and G, with three, but in all cases the number of leaves and the strength of the springs may be proportioned according to the service the carriage is intended to perform.

The other parts of the gear represented on the drawings are described and in part claimed in a patent granted to me by the Government of the United States, bearing date the twenty third day of June one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven.

I do not claim either section of the springs herein described when separately considered.

I claim Placing the scroll spring A, divergent to the axle, and supporting the same 011 the axle by means of the clip C, at the end thereof, and the raised double clip D, (or equivalent) near the wheel, for the purposes, and substantially as herein described.

LUTHER OTWAY RICE.

\Vitnesses E. B. FORBUSI-I, WV. H. FORBU'SH. 

